Description
Lemon Pecorino Crusted Chicken with Creamy Lemon Sauce brings zesty Mediterranean flavors right to your dinner table. Crispy cheese-coated chicken swimming in a silky sauce makes your weeknight meal feel like a restaurant experience.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 4 pieces boneless skinless chicken breasts
Cheese and Seasonings:
- 1 cup pecorino cheese
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning
Liquid and Binding Ingredients:
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 cloves garlic
Instructions
- Whisk 1 large egg in a shallow bowl until light and foamy, creating a smooth coating surface for your chicken.
- Combine 1 cup finely grated pecorino cheese with 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning in a separate shallow bowl, mixing thoroughly to create an even coating.
- Pour 1 cup heavy cream into a medium saucepan and heat over low-medium heat at 225°F, stirring gently to prevent scorching.
- Add 2 minced garlic cloves, 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, and 1 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning to the warming cream, blending ingredients smoothly.
- Gradually stir ½ cup pecorino cheese into the cream sauce until completely melted and integrated, creating a silky consistency.
- Dunk each thinly pounded chicken breast into the egg wash, allowing excess to drip off for an even, light coating.
- Roll the egg-coated chicken in the seasoned cheese mixture, pressing gently to ensure a complete and adherent crust.
- Heat a large skillet with a drizzle of olive oil over medium-high heat until it reaches 375°F, creating an ideal searing temperature.
- Cook chicken for 5 minutes on each side, ensuring a golden-brown exterior and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Transfer chicken to serving plates and generously drizzle with the prepared lemon cream sauce.
Notes
- Whisk the egg thoroughly to ensure a light, airy coating that helps the cheese mixture stick perfectly to the chicken.
- Use freshly grated pecorino for the best flavor and texture, as pre-grated cheese can be drier and less flavorful.
- Keep the heat moderate when cooking the chicken to achieve a golden, crispy exterior without burning the delicate cheese coating.
- For a lighter version, swap heavy cream with half-and-half or use a Greek yogurt base in the sauce to reduce calories.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 430 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 420 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 160 mg